Space Luisa Fernanda
Space, astronomy, rockets and the physics of it all.
Thursday, September 24, 2026 · UTC
Launches & Rockets

NASA to launch SR-1 Freedom to Mars in late 2028, first fission-powered spacecraft

The $2 billion mission will carry the first U.S. space reactor since 1965.

Luisa Marconi
Senior Space Correspondent
Share on X
Stands on 2 placed sources from 2 publishers.
NASA readies historic Mars mission
NASA readies historic Mars mission AI illustrationhow this picture was made
NASA expects to launch its SR-1 Freedom spacecraft to Mars in late 2028, making it the first fission-powered interplanetary spacecraft. The mission costs $2 billion and was first announced at NASA's Ignition event in March 2025. [1] The spacecraft will carry the first U.S. space reactor since 1965. [2]
Proof2 sources · 2 publishers · signed
What this stands on
  1. The SR-1 Freedom mission, which NASA first announced at its Ignition event in March 2025, is expected to launch in late 2028 to Mars as the first fission-powered interplanetary spacecraft, with a $2 billion cost. · Payload
  2. NASA plans to launch SR-1 Freedom, America's first nuclear-powered interplanetary spacecraft, in late 2028, carrying the first U.S. space reactor since 1965. · NASA Watch
We could not place any of them by their address. None is an official body: that part stands on reporting, not on the underlying document or transcript.